What the Montréal Canadiens are getting in Ty Smilanic

In what could become one of the trade deadline’s more lopsided deals, the Montréal Canadiens acquired a 2023 first-round draft pick, prospect Ty Smilanic and an additional pick for Ben Chiarot.

While the 2023 first-rounder is the most valuable piece in the deal, Smilanic is no throw-in.

Sure, Smilanic’s production took a dip this year, but his 14-goal, 29-game NCAA rookie campaign wasn’t a fluke. There are plenty of reasons to believe that he could be a capable NHL player.

The core of Smilanic’s game isn’t a complex one: stretch the ice, burn the defender wide with speed and shoot.

Stretching the ice relies on both physical and mental speed. Smilanic’s stride requires work, mainly from his lack of ankle flexion, but he’s a skilled skater with powerful crossovers, four-way mobility, and cutbacks. He separates from players at this level, provided he’s fast enough to recognize the opportunity. He often is. And he executes without leaving his team in a defensive deficit.